La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
San Geraldo researched getting rid of our piano. It’s an ugly piano with water damage and it takes up too much space. These old, less expensive ones don’t have resale value and no one wants to pay to have one moved, especially if they have to carry it down 7 flights of stairs. With further research, SG learned how to disassemble a piano and had a go at it beginning Thursday. He had eight YouTube videos to watch that explained each phase, and he made great progress. At that stage, there was the possibility that the remaining parts would be glued, which would be a game changer.
SG started up again Friday to an unfortunately changed game. All the remaining big parts are glued. Now, it would probably take a sledge hammer to make more progress. So, I’ve left messages for disposal services. It’s only money. SG has at least made it much lighter than it was originally, and they can sell the metal or melt it down themselves. Still, it was a fascinating process and it’s more pleasant to look at without its case. We thought about turning it into a shelving unit, but we don’t need another one. Besides, as I already mentioned, it takes up too much space. So there will be no tinkling on an old piano in this house.
I went for a 2-hour walk yesterday! I took 75 photos (only) and I whittled those down to 30. Imagine what you have to look forward to! Have I mentioned how much I love Córdoba?
Our new gas canisters were delivered today. As easy as it sounded, and a charming delivery guy. The new light fixture for the kitchen arrived yesterday. We love it and can’t wait for it to go up. We don’t know when. The light fixture for the terrace will be here in December. I found a kitchen island I like and we think we have the kitchen figured out. Maybe I can order that today.
I’m going to Málaga Monday to see the nephrologist (via Urgent Care) with my Córdoba lab results in hand. To me, they look improved. Anyway, I’ve been doing much more than I was capable of a couple of months ago. The backs continue to slowly improve. We coordinated well. My back hurts when I do certain things and SG’s when he does other things. Always a balance.
We walked last night to a new-to-us pizza place in a new-to-us part of the neighborhood. Very good. Very friendly. I had SG’s left-over pizza with my breakfast.
There are two boxes remaining to be emptied. They’re files from SG’s office and I don’t know where they go, so I’m leaving those to him. For now. I’ve still got plenty of organizing to do.
San Geraldo investigó cómo deshacerse de nuestro piano. Es un piano feo con daños por agua y ocupa demasiado espacio. Estos viejos, menos costosos, no tienen valor de reventa y nadie quiere pagar para que lo trasladen, especialmente si tienen que bajarlo por siete tramos de escaleras. Con más investigación, SG aprendió a desmontar un piano y lo intentó a partir del jueves. Tenía ocho videos de YouTube para ver que explicaban cada fase, y logró un gran progreso. En esa etapa, existía la posibilidad de que las partes restantes estuvieran pegadas, lo que sería un cambio radical.
SG comenzó de nuevo el viernes con un juego lamentablemente diferente. Todas las partes grandes restantes están pegadas. Ahora, probablemente se necesitaría un mazo para avanzar más. Entonces, dejé mensajes para los servicios de eliminación. Es solo dinero. SG al menos lo hizo mucho más liviano de lo que era originalmente, y pueden vender el metal o fundirlo ellos mismos. Aún así, fue un proceso fascinante y es más agradable mirarlo sin su estuche. Pensamos en convertirlo en una estantería, pero no necesitamos otra. Además, como ya he dicho, ocupa demasiado espacio. Así que no se oirá ningún tintineo en un piano viejo en esta casa.
¡Ayer salí a caminar durante 2 horas! Tomé 75 fotos (solamente) y las reduje a 30. ¡Imagínense lo que les espera! ¿He mencionado lo mucho que me encanta Córdoba?
Nuestras nuevas bombonas de gas han llegado hoy. Tan fácil como sonaba, y un repartidor encantador. La nueva lámpara para la cocina llegó ayer. Nos encanta y estamos deseando que la instalen. No sabemos cuándo. La lámpara para la terraza llegará en diciembre. Encontré una isla de cocina que me gusta y creemos que tenemos la cocina resuelta. Quizá pueda encargarla hoy.
El lunes voy a Málaga para ver al nefrólogo (vía Urgencias) con los resultados de las pruebas de Córdoba en la mano. A mí me parecen mejores. De todos modos, he estado haciendo mucho más de lo que era capaz de hacer hace unas meses. Las espaldas siguen mejorando lentamente. Nos coordinamos bien. A mí me duele la espalda cuando hago ciertas cosas y a SG cuando hace otras. Siempre hay un equilibrio.
Anoche caminamos hasta una pizzería nueva para nosotros en una parte nueva para nosotros del vecindario. Muy bien. Muy amable. Comí la pizza sobrante de SG con mi desayuno.
Quedan dos cajas por vaciar. Son los archivos de la oficina de SG y no sé a dónde van, así que se los dejo a él. Por ahora. Todavía tengo mucho que organizar.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
If the sound board is painted cast iron (many of them are) it may be possible to break it up with a sledgehammer. That is how they take most old cast iron bathtubs out. I gave away the reciprocating saw that would make quick work of the wood. I’d be fascinated at that point and just keep dismantling until I couldn’t anymore. How tiny is the elevator?
David:
A sledgehammer in a 7th-floor apartment is not a very good idea. Besides, not easy on the backs. The elevator snugly fits the two of us with backpacks. Four people without baggage — if you know each other well.
I’m amazed at how much you have accomplished in such a short time. Spain is famous for its “manana” but you seem to have conquered it. Now so much to see and do. Lucky you.
Anonymous:
I would usually have pictures on the walls within a week. This is SLOW.
I once disassembled a couch that no one would pick up when I was moving from San Francisco back to Sacramento. I cut it into pieces and carried it down a few flights of stairs to dispose of it.
Kind of like disposing of a body … not that I’ve ever done that! 😜
Bob:
My parents had a huge sofa that was carried up 16 flights of stairs by the movers when we moved to Brooklyn. Six years later, my father sawed it in half to take down in the elevator. https://movingwithmitchell.com/2018/12/19/it-was-too-big-era-demasiado-grande/
I haven’t played my “Ain’t Misbehavin'” soundtrack album for years, but your video today has inspired me to dig it out and play it again! Thanks!
Debra:
I love playing it on my walks.
Oh, yes, that piano is not up to the quality of your things… I bet you’d be looking at it and cringeing everyday.
All good things!
J Chabot:
The dining area is a nice size. The ugly piano screws it up.
I’ve often heard that old upright pianos are basically valueless. I guess it depends on make and model. In any case, I’m sure you’re happy to be rid of yours.
Steve:
It would have to be a very valuable piano to make it worth someone’s while to pay to carry it down the stairs. My first search on this make came up with a €30,000 piano. My second search came up with €1,500. In mint condition. This is not mint. I’ve contacted two companies. Hope to find someone to haul it away for less than €1,500. A LOT less.
My brother in law once took apart our old piano into many parts. His intent was to put it through a keyhole, but he was left with some big sections. Easier to dispose of, though.
That was me, Boud, with the bil story.
Boud:
We need your brother-in-law. And a ground-floor apartment.
It’s too bad you guys couldn’t just send the pieces down the “express exit”, but somehow, I don’t think it would be as funny as a Looney Tune cartoon, LOL! Glad you’re getting your new place sorted out, Scoot, and I can hardly wait to see the photos!
Tundra Bunny:
It is so tempting to just toss it off the terrace. Of course, we’d have to get it over the railing. But, it wouldn’t be funny although it WOULD be looney.
I had some friends who lived in the woods in a house they built themselves, mostly from found and reused materials. At one point, they had taken the back part of an old upright piano including the keyboard and used it as a headboard for their bed. I felt like that was a pretty creative thing to do but probably nothing you’d consider.
You guys are just getting so much done and a two mile walk is amazing! Good for you!
That is one peppy recording! I’m fatigued just listening to it.
I’m really going to try harder to identify myself. I swear.
MM
Ms. Moonsighswear:
It would actually make a very interesting headboard. Hmmm. My usual move-in pace would have pictures on the walls the first week. This is so slow!
QUITE FABULOUS PARTS. i WOULD HAVE SAVE WHAT IS IN THE FOURTH THUMBNAIL AND MADE A FRAMED ART PIECE. OPPS SORRY ABOUT THE BIG LETTERS…. BUT THEN THIS IS WHAT MY SON IS LOOKING AT ME AND SAYING DO YOU REALLY NEED THIS… NOW HE JUST LOOKS AT ME WITH ONE CRAZY EYEBROW.
parsnip:
I like your idea of using the parts as art. When my mother first got her computer, at the age of 83, she typed a stream-of-consciousness email to me. “Oh, everything is suddenly bold! Now it’s italics! Why is it all capital letters?!?” My mother saved everything. “I might be able to use it for a project one day!”
I bet you’ll be relieved when all the final bits of that ugly old piano are gone! There’s no greater relief in a rented flat than to wave bye-bye to anything that was someone else’s (and just left behind for no apparent reason but idleness)… Jx
Jon:
The piano was left because the owner didn’t want to pay to have it removed. It’s a good thing she gave us a great deal on a cool apartment.
I am impressed that you all thought about taking it apart. It would have never dawned on me! I can be dense like that. Great that you went on such a long walk! Progress. (And I look forward to those walking photos!)
Michael:
My thought was a jack hammer, which would have been impractical in an apartment. But leave it to SG to research disassembly and take it on.
A jackhammer would have been my thought too. Hooray for SG!
Fascinating to see and hear about the piano disassembly.
I’m looking forward to all the photos!
Kelly:
I find the guts of the piano to be quite beautiful.
The photos of the dismantled piano are interesting. It looks very old for a piano. I was told that any piano more than 50 yrs old is not worth it. Please tell me what kind of piazza you had with your breakfast, I want to see it we have the same taste in morning piazza with an espresso.
Laurent:
It wasn’t the best breakfast pizza. Barbecue sauce (very light), mozzarella, ground beef, bacon, and chicken. SG loves BBQ sauce pizza and we shared.
My stepdaughter has a keyboard, luckily that one is easy to move.
Would hate to touch a real deal piano on disposal
Probably in the cards anyway. Father in law owns an old fashioned organ 🙄
Adam:
We’ve had a number of pianos in our lives. One baby grand was with us for a number of years. High-quality, beautiful. Probably still of value. But we had to have it craned from our drive into the 3rd floor of our house in San Francisco. We sold it with the house. Our last piano was electronic. We gave it to friends and they were able to move it easily. Much more practical and it took up so much less space.
I have an old piano and an organ to get rid of; no one wants them of course.
I should call junk men to haul them away.
Urspo:
At least you don’t have to haul them down the stairs from the 7th floor.